GAME THREAD: NBA: SACRAMENTO (0-2) at DALLAS (1-1)

NBA: SACRAMENTO (0-2) at DALLAS (1-1)

<h3>Mavericks welcome Howard back in time for home opener</h3>

<div class="pre">Sacramento (0-2) at Dallas (1-1) 8:30 pm EDT</div>

DALLAS (Ticker) -- Josh Howard received a two-game suspensionfrom the league for a shot that he delivered to the SacramentoKings' Brad Miller during the preseason. The Dallas Maverickshope his return will give them a similar jolt.


The Mavericks return from a season-opening two-game road trip onSaturday when they host the Sacramento Kings in their homeopener.


Howard was ejected from an October 16 preseason game against theKings after delivering a forearm to the back of Miller. Healso pushed Miller, who had shoved Dallas guard Devin Harris tothe ground to ignite the incident.


Shortly after the confrontation, NBA executive vice presidentStu Jackson ruled that Howard escalated the incident by runningacross the court toward Miller, prompting the multi-gamesuspension.


Howard, who made the Western Conference All-Star team for thefirst time last season, ended up as the team's second-leadingscorer with 18.9 points per game. The Mavericks could have usedthat production on Friday when they were handed a 101-94 lossby the Atlanta Hawks.


Unfortunately for the Kings, they will not be receiving asimilar boost to their rotation. Two starters - Mike Bibby(thumb), Ron Artest (suspension) - are both out along withfirst-round pick Spencer Hawes (knee).


The lack of firepower showed in Sacramento's 96-80 loss Fridaynight against the San Antonio Spurs, a game in which it had just23 points in the first half and trailed by 27 heading into thehalf.


Kevin Martin has picked up from where he left off last seasonfor the Kings, scoring 48 points in their two losses. In histhird season last year, the 6-7 guard led the team in scoringwith 20.2 points.

 

NBA: SACRAMENTO at DALLAS

<div class="pre">SACRAMENTO VS DALLAS - INACTIVES

SACRAMENTO DALLAS

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
M BIBBY THUMB INJURY E DAMPIER SHOULDER
R ARTEST SUSPENDED BY LEAGUE D GEORGE LEFT FOOT LIGAMENT S
S HAWES LEFT KNEE INJURY D HARRIS THIGH BRUISE</div>

 

NBA: SACRAMENTO at DALLAS

<div class="pre">SACRAMENTO AT DALLAS - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS


SACRAMENTO DALLAS

F Shareef Abdur-Rahim F Eddie Jones
F Mikki Moore F Dirk Nowitzki
C Brad Miller C DeSagana Diop
G Kevin Martin G Josh Howard
G Francisco Garcia G Jose Barea

OFFICIALS: Mark Wunderlich
Derek Richardson
Tony Brown</div>

 

NBA: SACRAMENTO at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA SACRAMENTO 2
DALLAS 8 8:55 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: SACRAMENTO at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA SACRAMENTO 8
DALLAS 19 5:55 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: SACRAMENTO at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA SACRAMENTO 16
DALLAS 26 3:11 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: SACRAMENTO at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA SACRAMENTO 25
DALLAS 37 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: SACRAMENTO at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
SACRAMENTO 25 25
DALLAS 37 37 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

SAC - JOHN SALMONS 6, BRAD MILLER 4, KEVIN
MARTIN 4
DAL - JOSE BAREA 12, DIRK NOWITZKI 10, JOSH
HOWARD 7</div>

 

NBA: SACRAMENTO at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA SACRAMENTO 31
DALLAS 45 9:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: SACRAMENTO at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA SACRAMENTO 39
DALLAS 53 5:40 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: SACRAMENTO at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA SACRAMENTO 44
DALLAS 63 2:59 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: SACRAMENTO at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA SACRAMENTO 56
DALLAS 73 HALFTIME</div>

 

NBA: SACRAMENTO at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
SACRAMENTO 25 31 56
DALLAS 37 36 73 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

SAC - KEVIN MARTIN 17, JOHN SALMONS 13,
FRANCISCO GARCIA 12
DAL - DIRK NOWITZKI 18, JOSE BAREA 17, JOSH
HOWARD 15</div>

 

NBA: SACRAMENTO at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA SACRAMENTO 63
DALLAS 80 8:43 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: SACRAMENTO at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA SACRAMENTO 67
DALLAS 87 5:55 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: SACRAMENTO at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA SACRAMENTO 76
DALLAS 93 3:04 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: SACRAMENTO at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA SACRAMENTO 83
DALLAS 101 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: SACRAMENTO at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
SACRAMENTO 25 31 27 83
DALLAS 37 36 28 101 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

SAC - KEVIN MARTIN 24, JOHN SALMONS 21,
FRANCISCO GARCIA 21
DAL - JOSH HOWARD 22, JOSE BAREA 20, DIRK
NOWITZKI 20</div>

 

NBA: SACRAMENTO at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA SACRAMENTO 89
DALLAS 110 8:52 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: SACRAMENTO at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA SACRAMENTO 91
DALLAS 114 5:55 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>